The ex-superstar of the scene, who competes for the Netherlands, finished 23rd in the giant slalom in Sölden on Sunday. In the second run he achieved the third best time. “Better than on the couch,” summed up the 35-year-old after the second round with a big grin on his face. “I’m really having such a great time. And it’s really about nothing,” said Hirscher.
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Norwegian triple victory in Sölden – Hirscher in 23rd place
“I was also surprised that it was possible like that,” added the eight-time overall World Cup winner. “Imagine if I had been six seconds behind. That would have been cool, but then you would have had to say: Well, maybe I’m too old after all.” To the delight of the majority of the 17,200 in the finish arena on the Rettenbach Glacier, Hirscher was able to keep up well in his first race since April 2019 with start number 34 and ended up in 28th place in the first round. The attack followed with the early start number in the finale. In the end he was 2.16 seconds behind winner Alexander Steen Olsen from Norway. Six tenths were missing from the top ten.
Feller was nervous at Hirscher-Fahrt
“In my opinion it was a good performance and it attracts people. So it’s good for all of us,” said Manuel Feller, who was eliminated in the first round. “And it’s cool to exchange a few words with him again. I learned a lot from him. It’s cool to have him back. I hope it’s not the last race.” The Tyrolean admitted that he was nervous even when Hirscher was driving. Ten years ago, Salzburg celebrated its only Sölden victory.
With number 33, Vincent Kriechmayr, another ex-teammate of Hirscher, went onto the slopes directly in front of the Orange athlete. Apparently not many words were exchanged at the start. “We greeted each other and that was it,” said Kriechmayr. He also assessed Hirscher’s comeback positively, although: “He never stopped 100 percent anyway, he always trained for his ski company. I think a year after he ended his career he started training with the ski association again,” he said. “Nevertheless, it was a great performance. Today we saw again that he is a real racing driver.”
Former coach believes in Hirscher victories
Hirscher’s former coach Mike Pircher was happy with the comeback. “I think it’s great. I was really pleased that he was taking on it again and, above all, enjoying skiing. That wasn’t always there before, it was more forced,” said the Styrian, who is now in the team Brazil Lucas Pinheiro Braathen trains. “He’s obviously doing this now for joy, and only joy,” he said.
According to Pircher, Hirscher can achieve much more. “Marcel is a racing driver. If he has his seven plums together and the material works the way he wants it to, I believe he can do great things,” he emphasized. “Sooner or later I’ll believe in winning again.” When it comes to ski technology, Hirscher is beyond all doubt. “The question is perhaps whether at 35 you still have the physical dynamism and strength and whether you can still do it on the snow like a 24-year-old. That remains to be seen.”
